Police: Homicide suspect has history of violent crimes, narcotics sales
A Palm Desert man arrested in connection with the killing of a man found dead in a Palm Spring hotel bathtub over the weekend had an “an extensive criminal history involving violent crimes and narcotic sales,” according to police.
Rogelio Cruz Maciel, 36, of Palm Desert, was arrested around 4:45 p.m. Sunday in the 73800 block of San Nicholas Avenue in Palm Desert. He’s being held without bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning and is expected to make his initial court appearance on Wednesday.
The victim, whose identity has not been confirmed by law enforcement, was found dead around noon Saturday in a bathtub at the Musicland Hotel, 1342 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
According to family members that spoke with KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 News, the victim was identified as Jason Banks. The family has set up a gofundme page to help pay for funeral expenses.
“On September 8, 2018, we lost someone who was dear to all of our hearts. Jason was loved by many. He had an old soul and cared for everyone he held close to his heart. He had a smile that could warm you for days,” reads the campaign page. “His way of passing is yet to be determined, but one thing is for sure, it was not his time. He was sadly found in a Palm Springs Hotel room. A passing that no one could ever wish on a loved one. Please help our family in this dire time of need by donating so that we can allow my brother to lay in Peace.”
$200 had been raised toward the GoFundMe’s $5,000 goal at the time of this publication.
Officers were called to check on the man after he had failed to check out of the hotel at the required time, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
“The death appeared to be suspicious, which resulted in the response of the PSPD Detective Unit. The initial investigation revealed the death was a homicide,” according to a PSPD statement which did not reveal the cause of death.
According to police, ‘several leads’ led to Maciel’s arrest.
Riverside County court records show he has prior felony convictions for grand theft auto, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substances and receiving stolen property.
He also has a misdemeanor elder abuse conviction for taking his mother’s cell phone to keep her from calling police last April, then placing her in a bear hug in which she was “squeezed to the point that she had a hard time breathing,” court documents state.
His relationship, if any, to the victim, was unknown, and police said they were still working to uncover a motive for the killing.
Anyone with information regarding the death was urged to contact the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 778-8411, or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867 to make an anonymous tip.
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